Gravel Calculator

Landscape suppliers sell gravel by the cubic yard, by the ton, or by the bag, which makes it easy to over- or under-order. This gravel calculator turns the size of your path, driveway, patio base or drainage trench into a volume and then estimates the weight using a typical density for the stone you choose. You get cubic feet, cubic yards, cubic meters, US tons and metric tonnes, plus the number of bags if you are buying small amounts.

How to use this calculator

Choose imperial (feet and inches) or metric (meters and centimeters).
Pick the shape of the area and enter its measurements. Split L-shaped paths or curved driveways into rectangles and add the areas.
Enter the depth of gravel. Paths usually need 2–3 in (5–8 cm); driveways 4–6 in (10–15 cm) of base plus a 2 in top layer.
Choose the material so the calculator can estimate the weight. Densities vary by quarry, so treat tons as an estimate.
Order the cubic yards or tons shown, rounding up a little. For compacted base layers, add 10–15% to allow for compaction.

The gravel formula

Volume (cu ft) = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12. Divide by 27 to get cubic yards. To convert to weight, multiply the volume by the density of the stone. Most crushed stone weighs roughly 2,500 to 3,000 lb per cubic yard (about 1,500–1,800 kg/m³), so a common rule of thumb is 1.3 to 1.5 tons per cubic yard. The calculator uses metric density internally: tonnes = cubic meters × density ÷ 1,000.

Worked example

A garden path 30 ft long and 4 ft wide with 3 inches of gravel is 30 × 4 × 3 ÷ 12 = 30 cubic feet, or 1.11 cubic yards. At about 1,600 kg/m³ (roughly 1.35 tons per cubic yard) that is about 1.5 US tons. In metric, a path 10 m × 1.2 m at 7.5 cm deep is 0.9 m³, or about 1.44 tonnes of crushed stone.

How deep should gravel be?

Depth depends on the job. Decorative gravel over landscape fabric looks good at 2 inches; much thinner and the fabric shows through. Walkways that get regular foot traffic hold up better at 3 inches over a compacted base. A gravel driveway typically has 4 to 8 inches of crushed stone or crusher run as a compacted base, topped with 2 to 3 inches of a cleaner, more decorative stone. Drainage trenches and French drains are sized by the trench itself: measure the trench width and depth and subtract the volume of any pipe.

Choosing the right stone

Angular crushed stone locks together when compacted, so it stays put on driveways and under pavers. Rounded pea gravel and river rock are comfortable underfoot and attractive, but they roll and migrate, so they work best inside a solid edging. Crusher run (also called road base or dense grade aggregate) contains stone dust that binds when compacted – ideal as a base, less so as a top surface because it can get muddy. Decomposed granite gives a natural, firm path surface in dry climates.

Bulk or bags?

Bagged gravel (usually 0.5 cu ft bags weighing around 50 lb) is practical for small decorative areas. For anything over half a cubic yard, bulk delivery is usually far cheaper per ton. Check the truck’s minimum load and whether the delivery site can take the weight – a single cubic yard of stone weighs well over a ton.

Frequently asked questions

How many tons of gravel are in a cubic yard?

Typically about 1.3 to 1.5 US tons, depending on the stone type, moisture and particle size. Crushed stone is around 1.35 tons per cubic yard; compacted road base is heavier.

How much area does a ton of gravel cover?

At 2 inches deep, one ton of crushed stone covers roughly 100–120 sq ft. At 3 inches it covers about 70–80 sq ft, and at 4 inches about 55–60 sq ft.

How much gravel do I need for a driveway?

Multiply driveway length by width to get the area, then use a depth of about 4–6 inches for the base and 2 inches for the top layer. A 50 × 10 ft driveway at 6 inches total needs about 9.3 cubic yards, or roughly 12–13 tons.

Should I add extra for compaction?

Yes. Crushed stone and road base compact by roughly 10–15% when tamped or rolled, so order that much extra for base layers. Loose decorative gravel needs little or no allowance.

Can I use this for sand?

Yes. Choose the sand option for an approximate weight. Sand weighs more when wet, so a supplier’s ton of damp sand covers less than a ton of dry sand.